A Case of Sycophancy & Awe

Publish Date: 25-04-16 10:03 PM

Why do such people continue to aid the power which they themselves know is inimical to their people?
Mehbood Makhdoomi
Srinagar: In an array of confusions, which every researcher encounters while deciphering Kashmir’s scheme of things, is an interesting character – a Kashmiri pro-India politician. Being a Kashmiri, it was comparatively easy for me to contextualize the said character, but it certainly confounds outsiders, unless they spend a considerable amount of time here in Kashmir. Again, it’s my opinion and others can disagree with my analysis.

Having lived in Kashmir for decades, I have never found a Kashmiri who actually agrees with the Indian version of Kashmir’s accession theory. Never in private has anybody expressed such an agreement to me. I have also witnessed Kashmir’s mass movement of 1990s as a child and experienced every bit of it till now. I can tell you with authority that there’s not a single Kashmiri who feels about India the way a common Indian would. We may have genuine differences within ourselves on all other issues in the world, be that religion, sports, customs, values & much more but under ideal conditions we would all want the same thing vis a vis Kashmir’s political relation with India.

Why would then some people amongst us stand up for ideas which are by nature ‘unKashmiri’? Why would the same person whose heart, I know beats for the same goal as mine, all of a sudden start talking like a foreigner who he once abhorred? Why a person who once would speak Kashmir’s heart out, find solace in being called ‘a BJP Minister’? Don’t we know that such U-turns can’t be the change of heart but something more sinister? There’s no problem with a Kashmiri feeling for India, exactly the way some feel for Pakistan, given the fact we are yet to exercise our right to choose our political future. The problem is that their reason to go against the general Kashmiri psyche & become ‘pro-Indians’ is not their pro-Indianness. To me, it’s opportunism. And it has always existed in all such political struggles. No society can have absolute collective moral uprightness. It’s impossible.
Now it doesn’t end here. Why do such people continue to aid the power which they themselves know, is inimical to their people? Why doesn’t their conscience bother them? Are they really so bad a people? These are not my taunts. I have deeply delved into it for long time to find answers rather than simply claiming moral high ground. Undoubtedly, at the initial stage, it’s the greed of power & recognition. However, what lets them continue is interesting.

Psychologically, a human never finds comfort in being wrong. Then how do wrong people exist? They justify the wrong doing to themselves. That’s the only way they acquire some peace. In our case, they talk about the might of oppressor and weaknesses within the oppressed or its leadership, which might nonetheless be true but cannot justify clubbing-up with the oppressor. Besides, they claim to represent people. And common people help them in their justification. Most of us are sycophants. More than that, we have awe for power & authority.

A fiercely Pro Azadi Kashmiri, on seeing a Chief Minister, Minister or even a local MLA is overawed and can’t help but do things which convey some sort of respect. This is misconstrued by these politicians as a genuine support, which doesn’t let them think they are wrong. Moreover, when they speak in local language, it becomes inconceivable for the common people to consider them their enemies. Or else how on earth was it possible for a minister to address a gathering within 5 days of 6 casualties? If China takes over Kashmir tomorrow and I choose to be their puppet here, I can have funding of millions , purportedly for the people’s welfare and have a cavalcade of Chinese forces to escort me. I’m sure I’ll be a VIP and people would highly venerate me at my face. I may even do well to some people. Some may even come and kiss my hands and forehead. I shouldn’t misinterpret that as my legitimacy or justification. It’s only their awe for power and trait of sycophancy. Or else they would know I’m wrong, so would I.

In case, they think they are only governing Kashmir for its day to day needs, as has been allowed by the United Nations Resolutions on Kashmir, then they shouldn’t have been called ‘Pro India politicians’, clearly showing their allegiance vis a vis the political quandary of Kashmir. They should have objected to such titles. If it were really about mere governance, no one would have had any reservations against them. Conscientiousness is a rarity and to expect it from opportunists is tomfoolery.

Mehboob Makhdoomi is a Harvardian & an MBA from Pennsylvania University (IUP) United States with a Research degree from Cardiff University, United Kingdom.
Source: Greater Kashmir